homebiznotes.com

November 9th, 2007

Great Advice for Home Business Start Ups

Starting a home business can be puzzling and frustrating before it’s satisfying and producing an income.  That idea you approached with excitement, still seems great, but is producing uncertainties as you wonder where to begin.

Go on over to Startup Spark and see what Shannon Cherry has to say in Starting a Business on a Limited Budget.

Using the example of Kay, who wants to start a business marketing aprons and chef’s hats for children with a limited marketing budget of $500, Shannon mentions many tips that will give this business great exposure.

She discusses such areas as:

*Know your goals

*Do some research

*Get an inexpensive online presence (web site & blog)

*Use guerilla marketing

*Find free publicity

*Invest in quality photos

Even if you already have your home business up and running, you’ll benefit by checking out these tips at Startup Spark.

Do you have any marketing tips to add that you’ve found successful.

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By Mary Emma -- 1 comment

November 5th, 2007

Developing Creative Home Business Promotions

Developing creative promotions for your home business adds interest and draws more customers, or in the case of blogs, more viewers and participants.  Some of these will encourage customers to visit your walk-in shop.  Other promotions can increase customer awareness of your online presence.   

Noreen at Hankering for Yarn has developed a promotion around a doll she created, Tottie Tomato.  A whole world has around Tottie, complete with stories and activities. 

The most recent?   Noreen and Tottie invite you to a virtual tea party, where you can enjoy a cup of tea with other artists and crafters.  Also, invite someone to tea with you and share your favorite arts and crafts stories.

Noreen even has a gift for some lucky guest…read more about it at Hankering for Yarn. You’ll also find there links to all the activities surrounding Tottie.

This may give you ideas for promotions you envision for your business. 

*A mascot

*A story or ongoing ones

*A contest

*Special decorations

*Theme prizes…to suggest a few

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By Mary Emma -- 2 comments

March 30th, 2007

Have Fun With Your Home Business

When I wrote the meme post,  Simply Successful Secrets for a home business, I mentioned having fun.  Comments I’ve received let me know that others feel this is important, too. 

Often we get so caught up into the challenges of our business, the busyness,  the pressure of meeting deadlines, and the balancing act between business and family  that we forget to have fun.  We forget why we decided to develop a home business in the first place and don’t focus on our dreams when and how this is taking us on our way.

We forget to stop, if only for a half hour, to do something purely enjoyable that will refresh us.   Take a day off to get away and come back with new enthusiasm. 

Find ways to have fun while working at your home business, enjoy what you’re doing and the people you’re working with.   Also, make a list of what you consider the advantages of operating your home business, either parttime or full time, and keep them in front of you.

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By Mary Emma -- 0 comments